The Galileo system uses ground-based booster stations (ULS) to ensure accurate navigation of users around the world. These stations transmit the necessary data to the satellites, including information for calculating orbits and correcting clocks.
Traditionally, such messages are transmitted using dish antennas, however, recently at the site of the European Space Agency (THIS) in Red, which is headquartered at the von Karmann Institute of Hydrodynamics, tested a new type of terrestrial antenna - a phased array (phased array). This project was implemented as part of the Horizon program 2020 for scientific research and innovative developments, which aims to update Galileo technologies. A new antenna could potentially improve system performance.
Unlike traditional stations with dish antennas, which use mechanical guidance to track a single satellite, phased arrays control radio waves electronically. This provides faster pointing and re-pointing to satellites, increases reliability during the life cycle of the station and allows simultaneous communication with several satellites.
The ability of a single phased array antenna to contact multiple satellites simultaneously can be useful for satellite arrays, such as Galileo Second Generation (G2), which is currently under development. Such antennas can improve the efficiency of data transmission and reduce the number of ground stations and the amount of service.
Phased arrays are already used on satellites, however in 2021 A contract was signed for the development of a ground-based ULS Advanced Station for Galileo. The main contractor was TTI Norte, and the subcontractors are Celestia Antwerp and GMV. The goal of the project was to create and test a prototype of a phased array antenna, compatible with Galileo requirements. Industrial teams have now reached the final phase of the demonstration, which included testing in a real environment and confirmed the claimed characteristics of the new technology.
One panel of the new antenna was tested at ESA's European Center for Space Safety and Education (FAILURE) in Red. The test was aimed at establishing reliable communication with the Galileo satellite, devoted to testing, and confirm the possibility of using this technology for data transmission.
The signal was generated by the modem, designed by Celestia Antwerp, which was amplified and directed by the antenna panel. To check that, that the signal reached the satellite, used the Galileo Test User Receiver and satellite telemetry data, available from the ESA European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) at Noordwijk, Netherlands. The tests were coordinated with the Galileo Service Operator, to avoid impact on Galileo services.
Source: https://news.satnews.com